In close collaboration with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) of the World Bank hosted a Conference on Engaging with Fragile States: Challenges and Opportunities. The conference took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 24-25, 2007 at the United Nations Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The aim of the conference was to stimulate a discussion among in-country policymakers and bilateral and multilateral donor agency staff on how best to engage with fragile states, providing governments and donors with a basis for concrete action. About 150-200 key players on fragile states attended, including several Ministers of Finance and Planning, members of the diplomatic community, Heads and staff of donor agencies, and leading representatives of civil society and NGOs.

Featured speakers included Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Former Finance Minister and Foreign Minister, Nigeria; H.E. Antoinette M. Sayeh, Minister of Finance, Liberia; Dr. Soumana Sako, Executive Secretary, Africa Capacity Building Foundation; and H.E. Joao Kussumua, Minister for Social Assistance and Reintegration, Angola.

Following keynote addresses on the Challenges and Opportunities in Engaging with Fragile States by Mohamed Ibn Chambas (t.b.c), Executive Secretary, Economic Community of West African States, and by Mr. Ashraf Ghani, Former Minister of Finance, Afghanistan, and Chairman, Institute for State Effectiveness, the conference featured three sessions:

• Capacity Development and Governance (including in Post-Conflict Fragile States)
• Country-Level Donor Coordination
• Sustainable Peace and Post-Conflict Transitions